PARASITIC INFECTIONS IN NOMADIC COMMUNITIES AMONG PRESCHOOLERS IN DEMSA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ADAMAWA STATE-NIGERIA

Abstract

The most common cause of illness and disease is intestinal parasite infections, which are endemic throughout the world and have been shown to impact the most underprivileged and impoverished people. Age, sex hygiene, waste management, lack of access to clean water, and poverty are all frequently linked to intestinal parasite infections. From October to November 2017, a cross-sectional study on parasitic infections in preschoolers was carried out in Demsa Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The study's objective was to evaluate parasitic infections in preschoolers living in the nomadic camps in Demsa Local Government.

A questionnaire was used to gather information on age, sex, nutritional status, sanitation, waste disposal, and deworming medications from 183 children under five (101 boys and 82 girls) in six communities. Stool and urine samples were also taken from these children. Using formal-ether concentration techniques and sedimentation techniques for urine samples, the samples were analyzed under a microscope for parasite infection. Overall, the prevalence was 46.7% for stool samples and 9.0% for urine samples. The highest frequency of 14(13.90%) was Schistosoma mansonia 6(5.90%). Ascaris lumbricoides 5(5.0%) Strongyloides stercoralis 4(4.0%), Hookworm 1(1.0%). Enterobius vermicularis 1(1.0%). Age, sex, cleanliness, and waste management are among the variables that are not statistically significant. These findings indicate that in order to prevent in-discriminate defecation, which can lead to the spread of intestinal parasites, efforts must be taken to establish restrooms and adequate sanitation surrounding the nomadic encampment.